Transitional Christchurch - Public Art

So as you are all probably well aware I am doing my planning thesis on the transitional temporary uses that have happened in Christchurch in response to the earthquake and  in the last couple of weeks, I actually got to go and experience Christchurch and talk to some of the key people involved in pushing the boundaries of temporary and experimentation for Christchurch. It was awesome. The creativity in a city that is facing a long and slow recovery is astounding, and the public art in the city is of an amazing quality and content. So seeing as I have quite a few pictures and quite a few thoughts on transitional Christchurch I thought I would dedicate this post to the amazing public art I saw during my visit. 

Kaleidoscope Wall near Re:Start Mall

This "kaleidoscope" piece had the most amazing colours and was located on a wall near the Re:Start Mall (where I spent way too much time and money!). This piece really picked up the area, and was a huge change from the traditionally grey city centre that Christchurch had pre-earthquakes. 

Freak Container in the Re:Start Mall

The personalisation on some of the shipping containers actually in the Re:Start Mall was also amazing, this "freak container" near the amazing food truck area was one of my favourites. 

Portrait on the currently vacant Art Gallery

This large portrait is on the wall of what was previously the Art Gallery, but now remains unused. Also outside this art gallery is one of my particular favourite pieces...

The Gnomes

The giant, silver gnomes! What could be better then those two gnomes standing guard. I also really loved the "It's Coming Down" sculpture pictured below, which is actually 3m tall on the roof of a still standing building. 

It's Coming Down Sculpture

So that is all I have for you for now, even though the amazing public art in Christchurch appeared to be endless! I am flat out with work and uni at the moment but I will post again soon on the great transitional streetscapes and transitional urban design/architecture that has developed in Christchurch's Central City. 

Pop In to Church

Now as someone who is admittedly a little bit design obsessed, I am always first in line to pick up to new issue of Habitus magazine when it hits the news stands quarterly. In issue 19 there was one article that really caught my eye, and fits right in with the purpose of Urban Submarine. The project starts in an unused church, a neo-classical cultural heritage landmark in a residential suburb of Darlinghurst, Sydney. In order to revitalize this church and return activation to an otherwise unused building a unique and innovative solution was devised by Bates Smart Architects that I like to refer to as a Pop In. 

A Pop Up inside a Darlinghurst Church via Bates Smart

The element of cultural heritage often presents nothing but constraints and limitations for planners, builders and developers alike and that was certainly the case for this Darlinghurst Church Project. Development could in no way impact or extrude any of the walls of the Church and the outside was to remain completely intact. So what did Bates Smart do to solve this issue? The built inside it, creating a residential pop up home inside the church that can be completely dismantled and in no way impacts on the structure of the church itself. Pure Genius. The church not only now encompasses a lived in, and beautiful, residential home but with some gathered remaining pews also allows for public access in terms of a concert and performance space - effectively blurring the boundary between public and private. 

A large entertaining Kitchen within the Demountable Pod via Bates Smart

As the pictures show, the temporary nature of the housing shell in no way has constricted the residents, the pods even include a large and impressive entertaining kitchen. The whole project is proof that from constraints the most creative ideas can grow, as well as the ability of temporary structures to be more than just impermanent pop up shops or cafes. As a planner I think this project also illustrates that maybe the very idea of cultural heritage codes  and regulations as they exist today is outdated. Where is the benefit in allowing cultural heritage buildings to stand unoccupied and uncared for within the city? Maybe it is time to come up with a more flexible approach, that fosters innovation rather then placing barriers to it and stop being stuck in the old ways of planning. Possibly then we will witness a cultural regeneration, full of more wonderful and creative projects.